New York's Top Restaurants

Our critics pick the best eateries in five essential categoriesBy The Editors and Irene Sax

E
veryone's a food critic in New York, but no one knows where to eat. Too many places open and close. Some are hot for a month and then vanish, inexplicably, like a one-hit-wonder pop singer. But a few dozen restaurants do find a groove, and a regular audience, and never need course correction. These are the perennials, the safe bets, the treasured top picks. And, thankfully, there are eateries to match all needs: high-end celebrity chef dining destinations (good luck spotting Thomas Keller or Jean-Georges Vongerichten), budget-sensitive noodle shops,
sexy hot spots that never lose their luster (reservations are a must), cozy local favorites, and the classics--where you can find authentic, no-kidding-around lox and bagels, pastrami on rye, or steak. We've selected only places that have proven their culinary chops and long-term reliability.